FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): There were more HIV cases in Allen County last year.

The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health says they saw 23 new cases of the disease in 2015, compared to 18 the year before. The Journal Gazette reports Allen County also saw a dramatic jump in the number of new Hepatitis C case investigations, handling 395 in 2015 compared to 245 in 2014.

Director of HIV/STD prevention, Kathy Thornson, noted that both diseases can be transmitted through intravenous drug use, which is one reason health officials are pushing for officials to set up a needle exchange program.